title: [The diagnostic value of serum latex agglutination test for pulmonary cryptococcosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the diagnostic value of serum cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide antigen latex agglutination test (LA) for pulmonary cryptococcosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum and lung biopsy specimens of 27 patients, who were suspected of having pulmonary cryptococcosis based on clinical presentations and imaging features, were collected from July 2000 to July 2007 in the First Hospital of Peking University. LA test and histopathological examination were performed in all the patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histopathological examination confirmed pulmonary cryptococcosis in 9 cases, all of whom were positive for serum LA test. The other 18 cases were confirmed to have no cryptococcosis and all of them were negative for serum LA test. Therefore, the sensitivity and specificity of LA test were both 100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The diagnostic value of serum LA test for pulmonary cryptococcosis is high.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.
authors.forename: Xiang-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.forename: Ruo-Yu
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Guang-Fa
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ren-Gui
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests / Q000379:methods*; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000946:Antigens, Fungal